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Charlie the donkey is helping to spread a little happiness to end-of-life care patients at a hospice in Cheshire.

He’s spent his life giving kids the ride of their lives up and down Scarborough beach and now in his own retirement, the 10-year-old is helping those at the other end of the cycle.

Charlie has been delivering ‘assistive therapy’ at St Ann’s Hospice in Cheadle, where he’s been nuzzling up to patients, carers and staff – and even poking his nose through bedroom windows so that bed-bound residents can meet him.

While a donkey might seem a random choice of therapy animal, Adele Crompton, an equine coach at The Donkey Sanctuary, says that the animals are naturally in-tune with humans.

‘Donkeys have a natural emotional intelligence and react positively to human contact,’ she says.

‘There’s something very pure about seeing an animal in front of you. There’s no judgement and it takes a lot of people back to their childhood.’

(Picture: Jon Parker Lee/Manchester Health/PA)

(Picture: Jon Parker Lee/Manchester Health/PA)

One daycare patient who has been spending time with Charlie is Genevieve Grey, 80.

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‘I’ve always loved animals,’ she says.

‘If I was able to, I’d have him to come to live with me and I’d build a shed or shelter for him.’

The visit was arranged by Manchester Health and Care Commissioning, as part of an increased focus by health chiefs in the region to make palliative care more personalised.

(Picture: Jon Parker Lee/Manchester Health/PA)

(Picture: Jon Parker Lee/Manchester Health/PA)

Eamonn O’Neil, chief executive of St Ann’s, says: ‘Everyone loves a donkey. There is something unique about these wonderful animals and the effect they have on people.

‘It was a pleasure to welcome Charlie and Adele to the hospice, and our patients, staff and volunteers loved meeting them.

‘Charlie was a real hit with everyone and his visit is proof that no two days are ever the same at St Ann’s.